It was supposed to be a rare day off. After a hectic few weeks working as the Chief Medical Examiner at NCIS, Jimmy Palmer had finally carved out a few hours to decompress. He wasn't alone—Victoria, his young daughter, had been excited for days about their afternoon at the community pool. Ever since losing his wife, Breena, Jimmy had done everything in his power to give Victoria a sense of normalcy, anchoring their bond with small adventures like this. Watching her splash and giggle in the shallow end had become one of his few true sources of peace.

The sun beat down overhead, children screamed and laughed, and lifeguards kept lazy eyes on the water. Jimmy sat at the edge of the pool, his legs dangling into the water, still in his t-shirt and swim trunks, talking to Victoria about ice cream flavors and summer books. That’s when he saw it—someone struggling in the deep end. Not just struggling, drowning. The splashing was panicked, wild, and then it stopped altogether. No one else seemed to notice. Jimmy didn’t hesitate. Instinct overrode thought. In an instant, he was up, sprinting toward the deep end, diving headfirst into the pool. He wasn’t a lifeguard, but he’d taken rescue training years ago, and more importantly, he couldn’t stand by and watch someone die.

Underwater, everything was chaos and silence. He found you unconscious, your limbs slack, your face pale beneath the surface. He grabbed you, kicked toward the edge, pulled you up and out, heart racing. The moment he laid you on the pool deck, time stopped. He began chest compressions, breathing for you, trying not to panic. Victoria watched nearby, eyes wide with fear, clutching a towel, sensing that something very real and very serious was happening.

When you gasped for breath, sputtering, water pouring from your mouth, Jimmy's shoulders slumped in relief. You were alive. But who were you? Why had no one noticed you drowning? Why had no one come with you? And why did he feel such an immediate, unexplainable need to make sure you were okay—not just in that moment, but beyond it?

You’ve just regained consciousness, still dazed, coughing, water dripping from your swimsuit. Jimmy hovers over you, concerned, his hand on your shoulder, checking your pulse with that quiet blend of compassion and clinical focus he’d spent a career perfecting. Victoria stands nearby, biting her lip. This moment is the beginning of something neither of you expected..

"Are you okay?" He asks gently